'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' with Brenda Lee

She burst onto the rock and roll scene before the genre even had a name and would become one of the best-selling female singers of the 1960s. Brenda Lee moved in music circles with Elvis, the Beatles and Little Richard, topping the charts with hits like "I'm Sorry," "I Want to Be Wanted," and "Fool No. 1," and many others.

Her career spanned decades with success in multiple genres to include rock and roll, rockabilly, pop, and country, but her biggest all-time hit is the Christmas classic "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree." Lee was just 13 years old when she recorded the song in 1958.

"Did you have to go there?" she says with a laugh, at the mention of the six-and-a-half decades that have passed since the song's release. In a telephone interview from her home in Nashville, Tennessee, Lee, says the song has always been special, but she's surprised it's still so popular.

"It's such a fun song and I love it, but I never dreamed this would be my signature song. Never, ever."

Written by Johnny Marks, who also wrote "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Have A Holly Jolly Christmas," "Rockin" has been recorded by a number of other artists. But Lee's original version got renewed attention when it found its way into a 1990 film.  

"I got a call one day from one of my friends," she recalls, "And they said, 'Brenda, there's a movie out called "Home Alone," and your song is all the way through it.' And I thought, what song? I went to the movie, and it was "Rockin.""

She's grateful the song continues to bring so much joy. Lee's love of music, and the ability to share it with others, began as a little girl growing up in Georgia.

"I've been singing since I was old enough to talk," she says. She began by singing along to songs she'd hear on her parents' tiny transistor radio.

"The first song I ever learned," she recalls, "was a Hank Williams song called "Mansion Over the Hilltop.""

She's always known her talent for music was something special. "I know it's a God-given gift, and I don't treat that lightly," she says.

After her father died when Lee was seven years old, she saw her musical gift as a way to help support her family. The little girl with the powerful voice would pursue her music, signing a deal with Decca Records before her 12th birthday. She'd go on to become a singing sensation, first as a teenager, then into her early 20's. She was a big hit in Europe, as well as the U.S., and once had the Beatles as her opening act.  

"When I worked with them, they weren't huge, they weren't famous yet," Lee says. "I was playing the Star Club in Germany, and it was the first time I'd worked with the guys. I fell in love with John because he was so quiet, but so introspective. I liked them all, but John was my favorite."

She was struck by their sound, in part because of the unique type of songs they were singing. They were unlike anything being played in America.

"After they got through with their show that night, and John came off the stage, I asked him, 'John, where do you get those songs?' And he looked at me, very nicely and nonchalantly and said, 'Oh, we write them.' I thought, 'Oh my Lord.' I just about fainted, no kidding."

She has fond memories of other major artists during that era, as well.

"I loved Elvis. He was one of my dearest friends. I hate that he's gone, I would have loved to have seen what he would have finally grown into."

At 78 (she turns 79 on December 11th), the diminutive woman known as Little Miss Dynamite still lives up to her energetic nickname. A member of both the Rock & Roll and Country Music Hall of Fame, Lee no longer tours or performs on a regular basis, but often appears at music or industry events in Nashville.

In September she helped induct Ringo Starr into the Musicians Hall of Fame, and in October, welcomed good friend, Tanya Tucker, into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Sharp, warm and incredibly funny, she had the crowds at both events roaring with laughter.

At one point after inducting Tucker and leaving the stage to allow Tucker to give her acceptance speech, Tucker mentioned Lee's name, then scanned the audience to find her.  

"I'm back here!" Lee exclaimed, her voice reverberating throughout the theater. She stepped out from behind a black curtain backstage, waved at Tucker and the crowd, shrugged her shoulders, then slipped back behind the curtain out of sight.

Lee is a music legend in her own right but embraces any opportunity to cheer on others in the music business.

"I go because I'm a fan. And I know what it takes to do what they're doing. It's hard. It's a career you have to love because if you don't, the audience sees it. Then, kaboom, you're out of there."

Lee, who has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, chose to retire from the music business years ago. She wanted to spend more time with her family and says it was the right decision.

"Do I miss singing?" she asks. "Yes, but I can always go into the bathroom and sing my little heart out!" Here, she stops and laughs, then continues. "And I can do guest shots and attend different events. But when I decided to retire, that's exactly what I did. And I got to watch my children grow up and be with my husband of 57 years and I've loved it."

To mark the 65th anniversary of "Rockin Around the Christmas Tree," Lee recorded her first official video for song. With help from friends and fellow artists Trisha Yearwood and Tanya Tucker, her new music video shows Lee making cookies and trimming the tree in preparation for the holiday.  

"You just wouldn't believe what went into it," she says. "I'm one of those girls that doesn't like fittings, I don't like clothes I've never worn, I don't like choosing clothes, you get my gist. And bless Universal's heart, here they come with all these clothes and shoes. My only question was, where'd they find shoes that fit, because I can never find shoes that fit me. But it was a lot of fun."

She's also celebrating this Christmas with a new holiday EP, "A Rockin' Christmas with Brenda Lee." It has "Rockin'," as well as other classics. And fans will get to see her perform her signature song on "Christmas at the Opry" which airs on NBC on Thursday, December 7th at 8pm ET/PT.

Lee's been blessed with an amazing life and remains grateful to the songwriters, musicians, producers, fellow artists and others who've helped make it happen. She's also deeply appreciative of the many fans who have supported her music over so many years.

"I adore my audience and in my prayers at night, as crazy as it may sound, I thank the people who have given me this wonderful career."

Pam Windsor is a Nashville-based feature, travel, and entertainment writer. Read More